Hull-based watercraft with pontoons

ABSTRACT

A watercraft having a fixed hull and a deck affixed to the fixed hull. A rear steering device is pivotally connected to the watercraft and is coordinated with pontoons that are opposite the rear steering device. When the rear steering device rotates, the pontoons rotate in the opposite direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Patent Provisional Ser. No. 63/188,516, filed May 14, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to watercraft, namely boats with a hull rearward of pontoons. Maneuverability is frequently a problem, with some boats. Typically, a watercraft has a single steering device. Watercrafts are usually steered at their stern either by pivotally directing the propulsion mechanism (outboard motor, propeller, or jet pump thrust) or by pivoting a rudder. The rudder may be used in combination with a fixed propeller. Each type of steering device has traditionally been the only means for steering a watercraft. In the case where propulsion device is used as the steering device, steering the watercraft is difficult when coasting. The types of watercrafts that have fixed propeller and a rudder are limited in their ability to be used in more shallow water and service is more difficult. An improved and more maneuverable watercraft is needed and this may be accomplished by providing more elements for steering than the traditional methods of using just a single steering device located at the stern of the watercraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure describes a hull-based watercraft with pontoons. The boat has a fixed hull near the rear of the watercraft that can hold a propulsion device such as an outboard. Attached to and extending outward in front of the fixed hull is a deck. The pontoons are attached underneath the deck and can be fixed or pivoted about an attachment point. In the case where the pontoons pivot, they are connected mechanically to a rear steering device, such as an outboard motor or a rudder. In this fashion, steering the watercraft with the rear steering device also causes steering of the pontoons. A mechanical connection between the rear steering device and the pontoons can be accomplished through pulleys, or linkages. The pontoons can be controlled electrically or hydraulically to accomplish the same steering without a mechanical connection. When the rear device is steered in one direction, the pontoons are steered in the opposite direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the watercraft;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the watercraft shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the watercraft in FIG. 2 with the steering changing the watercraft's direction;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an alternate design of the watercraft in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the watercraft using a turn-table to join the pontoons in a right-hand turn;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the watercraft shown in FIG. 5 in a left-hand turn;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view that shows a linkage connecting the pontoons and the rear steering device;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing hydraulic cylinders coordinating movement of the pontoons and rear steering device; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing a system of pulleys connecting the rear steering device and the pontoons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A watercraft 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-9. The watercraft is buoyant in the water 12 through a stationary hull 20 and pontoons 22, 24. Each pontoon 22, 24 has an axis 25. The axis 25 of the pontoons 22, 24 corresponds to the approximate geometric centerline of each pontoon 22, 24. The axes 25 serves as a general direction in which the pontoons 22, 24 travel through the water. Although two pontoons 22, 24 are shown, it is contemplated that more than two pontoons 22, 24 could be used. The stationary hull 20 is affixed to a deck 26, where seating 28, railings, covers, or other devices can be attached. The stationary hull 20 may be a V-hull or a flat bottom hull. It may also be the case that the stationary hull 20 and deck 26 are integrally molded in one piece. This configuration of having an integrally molded unitary deck 26 and stationary hull 20 could be particularly well suited to being made from fiberglass or carbon fiber. The stationary hull 20 provides ample room for a fuel tank (not shown), storage, and any attachments for rear steering devices, which may be pivotal propulsion devices or a rudder. The deck 26 extends beyond the front of the stationary hull 20. The deck 26 also provides support and an attachment point (or attachment points) for the pontoons 22, 24. The pontoons 22, 24 are less than the length of the deck and located nearer the bow end 27 of the watercraft 10 than the hull 20. This is in contrast to the fixed hull 20 that spans beneath the deck 26 and is wider than the distance that between the pontoons 22, 24.

Propulsion of the watercraft 10 is accomplished through an outboard 30 or other type of motor. As is well-known in the art, a steering wheel 32 is used as a steering control for the operator of the watercraft 10 to pivot the rear steering device which is shown as outboard 30. As will be discussed below, the term rear steering device will be used to generally described a device such as an outboard 30, that is pivotally attached near the stern 29 of the boat to steer it as has been done in traditional watercraft. As such, number 30 may be used interchangeably to indicate a rear steering device generally for which an outboard 30 is an example thereof. Rotation of the steering wheel 32 changes the position of the outboard 30. It is contemplated that propulsion can occur through an inboard/outboard motor (I/O) or an inboard with rudder (not shown). In the case where a rudder is used, the rudder is the rear steering device 30. In any propulsion setup, the rear steering device 30 is connected to the steering wheel 32. Each type of rear steering device 30 (rudder or outboard 30) has an axis 31 of thrust which corresponds to the flow direction of water passing adjacently past the rear steering device 30. As is known in the art, the axis 31 of thrust for a propeller is substantially perpendicular to the path the blades travel and for a rudder the axis 31 is aligned with the flat sides of the rudder. The steering wheel 32 changes the direction of the rear steering device (propeller, rudder, outboard 30, or jet) and changes the axis 31 of thrust. Depending on the size of the watercraft 10 and power of the propulsion, this changing of direction for the rear steering device 30 may be accomplished through a flexible cable, mechanical linkages, or hydraulic lines. Movement of the rear steering device 30 is coordinated with the movement of the pontoons 22, 24.

The pontoons 22, 24 are connected to the deck 26 at a single pivot point 40 and connected to each other through frame components 42, 44. The single pivot point 40 as shown in the FIGS. does not limit this invention to a single pivot shaft and bearing assembly. For example, the single pivot 40 could be a turn-table 41 or other larger bearing assembly. A turn-table 41 connecting the pontoons 22, 24 is shown in FIGS. 5-9. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pontoons 22, 24 are connected to a linkage 46 at a pontoon end 48, which is connected to the outboard 30 at a rear steering end 50. The pontoons 22, 24 can also be connected directly to the steering wheel 32 in the same manner as the outboard 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the pontoons 22, 24 can be moved hydraulically or electrically with actuators 33 that are hydraulically or electrically connected to the steering wheel 32. In this way the actuators 33 can provide coordinated movement of the pontoons 22, 24 and the outboard 30.

The linkage 46 is connected to the outboard 30 and pontoons 22, 24 in such a way that when the steering wheel 32 turns, the outboard 30 in one direction, the pontoons 22, 24 are steered in the opposite direction. This is shown in FIG. 3. The movement of the pontoons 22, 24 and outboard 30 in FIG. 3 may accomplished by actuator 33. The movement of the pontoons 22, 24 by any of the means disclosed herein aligns the axes 25 of the pontoons 22, 24 and the axis of thrust 31 in alignment along the arcuate path 35 for which the watercraft 10 is intended to travel. This means that axes 25, 31 of both the pontoons 22, 24 and the rear steering device 30 align tangentially parallel to the arcuate path along which the watercraft will travel when the rear steering device 30 and pontoons turn together according to their coordinated movement. The linkage 46 may be connected as shown in FIG. 7 to arm 49 to rotate the outboard motor 30. The configuration in FIG. 9 uses a cable 81 guided by pulleys 82 to move the pontoons 22, 24. There are many different configurations that can provide for the coordinated turning of the pontoons 22, 24 and outboard motor, thus, the embodiments shown in the FIGS. are exemplars of working configurations and other configurations may be employed to achieve the coordinated movement described herein.

It is contemplated that each pontoon 22, 24 is attached to the deck 26 through their own pivot points 60, 62. This is shown in FIG. 4. In this setup, both would still steer in a direction opposite of the outboard 30, but they would individually pivot about their own pivot points instead of a single pivot 40. In the design shown in FIG. 4, a link 66 couples the pontoons 22, 24 together at pivoting ends 68, 70 with a steering arm 64 connected to the link arm 46 at a far end 48.

It is understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. No specific limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Modifications may be made to the disclosed subject matter as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A watercraft comprising: a fixed hull having a deck affixed to said fixed hull; a rear steering device pivotally attached to said watercraft; a steering control coupled to said rear steering device to pivot said rear steering device with respect to said watercraft; a pontoon rotatably affixed to said deck; and when said steering control pivots said rear steering device, said pontoon rotates in a direction opposite said rear steering device.
 2. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein said steering control is a steering wheel.
 3. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein a plurality of pontoons are affixed together near a bow end of said watercraft, said pontoons being rotatable together.
 4. The watercraft of claim 3, wherein each of said pontoons includes an axis corresponding to an approximate centerline of said pontoons and said rear steering device includes an axis corresponding to a flow direction of water passing adjacently past said rear steering device when said watercraft moves through said water, when said rear steering device pivots said axis of said pontoons and said rear steering device respectively align along an arcuate path.
 5. The watercraft of claim 3, wherein said rear steering device is a pivotable propeller.
 6. The watercraft of claim 3, wherein said rear steering device is a rudder.
 7. The watercraft of claim 4, wherein a linkage connects said pontoons and said rear steering device.
 8. A watercraft comprising: a fixed hull; a rear steering device pivotally attached to said fixed hull; a steering control coupled to said rear steering device to pivot said rear steering device with respect to said fixed hull; a pontoon rotatably affixed to said fixed hull; and when said steering control pivots near said rear steering device, said pontoon rotates in a direction opposite said rear steering device.
 9. The watercraft of claim 8, wherein said steering control is a steering wheel.
 10. The watercraft of claim 8, wherein a plurality of pontoons are affixed together near a bow end of said watercraft, said pontoons being rotatable together.
 11. The watercraft of claim 10, wherein each of said pontoons includes an axis corresponding to an approximate centerline of said pontoons and said rear steering device includes an axis corresponding to a flow direction of water passing adjacently past said rear steering device when said watercraft moves through said water, when said rear steering device pivots said axis of said pontoons and said rear steering device respectively align along an arcuate path. 